Don't let Tukuhnikivatz (tuk-oon-ik-ah-vatz) scare you; it means "where the sun sets last." Mt. Tuk is the 3rd highest peak in the La Sal Mountains at 12,482; it has a unique triangular shape. I won't lie from the get-go I was scared of this mountain, it looks so steep and it is! However, the trail is really nice and there were quite a few switchbacks, all the way to the ridgeline. The last 500 ft. was a scramble up the talus, at times we were spider walking using our hands and feet, then all of sudden we were on top of the world!
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| We're on our way to the Mt. Tuk trailhead |
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| All in all, it's about 6 miles roundtrip to the top |
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| The Quaking Aspen are so tall |
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| We followed a nice trail to the ridgeline |
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| Looking back at Mt. Peale (12,726) which we climbed in 2014 |
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The trail ended once we reached the ridge line . . .
As we approached the pass the cold wind became unforgiving |
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| This mountain is definitely intimidating! |
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| It may be straight up, but it's easier than it looks |
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| From here on up it was all hands and feet . . . no kidding! |
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| We met "Slim" Jim from Missouri on the trail and shared the mountaintop with him |
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| There was no wind at the top! |
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Looking down on the meadow where our hike began
That's South Mountain (11,817) on the right |
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| Mt. Mellenthin (12,645) towers over a couple of smaller peaks |
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| We could see a long ways, even above the clouds and layer of haze |
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Time to head back down
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| A glimpse of Mt. Tuk (12,482) and Little Tuk (12,048) |
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It's hard to explain what it feels like to stand among the mountains tops . . .
there are no words . . . if you want to know you'll have to go climb a mountain! |
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| Just yesterday, we were on top of Gold Knob (11,050)! |
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| A beautiful day for a hike |
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| It sure feels like Fall when you walk among the aspens |
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| We are just about back to the trailhead . . . what a hike this has been! |
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| Medicine Lake sits below picturesque Mt. Tuk and Mt. Peale |
Then why climb Tukuhnikivats? Because I prefer to. Because no one else will if I don't - and
somebody has to do it. Because it is the most dramatic in form of the La Sals, the most conspicuous and beautiful as seen from my terrace in the Arches. Because, finally, I like the name. Tukuhnikivats - in the language of the Utes "where the sun lingers." . . . Edward Abbey (Desert Solitaire)
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| Aerial view of Mt. Tuk Trail (2017) and Mt. Peale Trail (2014) |
